New Year Resolutions?

Here we are once more, at the entrance gate for another year. So what do we all plan to do or not do in 2017? For myself, I plan to continue my weight loss journey. I'd love to lose another 2 stones in 2017 to match my loss in 2016. I have writing targets to achieve too after being on hold for some 12 months or so. I want to sort out some financial affairs this year - nothing major, just those small things that get put off for some unspecified future time. I intend to spend more time in the places I love. How about you? What are you planning for 2017?

The Christmas Beetle

Every Year I write a story especially for my niece, Sophia as her Christmas gift. I'd like to share this one with all of you. It's the first one I wrote for her in 2010. The Christmas Beetle Bertie, the small black beetle was tired. He’d flown around all day long in the sun until his wings ached. All he wanted was to find a nice dark, safe place where he could settle down for a good nights sleep. Then he saw the perfect spot, a beautiful hat made of soft purple fabric. Just the right bed for a small, tired insect. He snuggled in and closed his weary eyes. When the sun rose the next morning Bertie discovered he was in a strange new place. He stretched his wings and left his bed to see where he was. The ground below him was hot and dusty and the sky a bright cloudless blue. The only green things he could see were a small group of palm trees. The human whose hat had provided him with a bed for the night sat with his friends and their camels resting in the shade. Bertie had a nice day flying around in the sunshine before creeping back into his warm safe bed. That night he couldn’t sleep. His bed in the hat rocked and moved as its owner travelled through the darkness following a big bright star that lit up the sky. Bertie held on tight as they approached a small but busy town. He took a peep over the brim of the hat when his bed stopped moving and saw the humans talking to a group of shepherds who had come down from the hills. He quickly hid again when one of the lambs saw him and bleated hello. He didn’t want the owner of the hat to throw him out of his bed. After a few minutes his bed started rocking once more as the people moved on. Bertie could hear the lambs still bleating and wondered where the owner of the hat and the shepherds could be going. He heard lots of noise, people talking and the clatter and bustle of the streets. Overhead the huge star shone down as bright as the sun filling the town with its light. He was almost thrown from his perch when the owner of the hat climbed down from his camel. I wonder where we are? Thought Bertie. The noise had stopped and everything was silent except for the sounds of beautiful music. He crept to the brim of the hat and holding tight with his pincers he peered out. In front of him was an amazing sight. Golden winged humans stood at the back of a small room which had straw on the floor. They were the makers of the music. A man and a woman knelt next to a small basket made of wood filled with straw. The woman looked happy but tired as she looked at the manger. Bertie glanced around the room and saw the donkey and the ox kneeling and looking at the manger. He was almost thrown to the floor again when the owner of the hat also knelt down on the stone cobbles amongst the straw. The shepherds had filed in behind the owner of the hat and his two friends. Now the lambs were also kneeling and had stopped their bleating. The owner of the hat and his friends gave the man and the woman gifts, strange boxes filled with scented special and expensive things. Bertie could resist no longer. He had to know what was in the manger that was causing this strange behaviour. He stretched his little black wings and took off from his perch landing carefully on the edge of the crib hoping the humans wouldn’t notice him. He looked inside and found the source of the wonder. A tiny human baby wrapped in cloth lying amongst the straw. Bertie looked at the baby and the baby looked at Bertie. The baby gave a tiny smile and Bertie felt a strange warm glow spreading throughout his tiny body and he knew this was a very special baby. He bowed his head before spreading his wings once more and retreating back to his bed in the hat before any of the other humans saw him. After a while the owner of the hat and his friends left the stable and went back out onto the street. By then the sun had begun to rise once more for the start of a new day. Bertie decided he would fly and get a drink of water before the day grew too hot. He saw a bucket of water beside a well and flew down to take a drink. As he leaned forward he saw his reflection in the water. What he saw surprised him so much he almost fell in. He was no longer Bertie the small black beetle, instead he glowed with a rich yellow-green colour. He had become Bertie the Christmas Beetle. © Nell Dixon 2010

Prepping for Christmas

The tree is up and turkey is sorted. Youngest belle is home from Uni. We're looking forward to our annual trip into Birmingham for the panto. Christmas for me isn't Christmas without panto. We've the Christingle service on Christmas Eve to look forward to. Thankfully, I'm off for Christmas eve and Christmas day although I have 2 fourteen hour shifts for New Years eve and day and shifts in between.

Card or not to card? That is the question

Every year I see people saying they aren't sending cards this year and are giving the money to charity. Which is lovely, but, it also raises a dilemna. For those people, some of them elderly who look forward to getting a card, with a bit of a note in, every year who aren't online savvy, it can be sad when they don't hear from old friends, family etc. Christmas is a time for people, for catching up on news. It's a human time. Giving to charity is wonderful but there can be a balance. I buy charity cards and make donations - a percentage of all my book sales goes to various charities that I support all year round. The RNLI, my local hospice and the air ambulance service are my main ones. What do you all think?

What's been happening?

Well, as I said, long time no see. I've had a bit of an hiatus for the last 18 months or so. Health issues, a birthmark on my arm turning rogue needed 2 lots of surgery and then some correctional work on my left hip. Work, I was promoted in my day job and I work long hours. Family life, one daughter graduated and moved back home, one daughter left for university and the middle one qualified as a hairdresser and also left home to live with her long term boyfriend. Add this in to 2 major renovation projects on the house - we rebuilt most of the downstairs and you can see where my time went. I do have several projects in the pipeline however and you will be seeing new books from me in 2017. That is if my office assistant ever allows me to do any work.

Tap, tap, is this thing on?

Yes, peeps, I'm back. Look out for new regular blogs from me over the next 12 months. There will be freebies, book news and guest blogs from some of my lovely author friends as well as news from Brierley Rose Press.

Romantic Novelist Association conference

This weekend is the RNA conference and on Saturday I'm giving a workshop with the fab Phillipa Ashley! We're talking about series and linked books.

We've both written series and linked books. Mine are the New Bay Cornish set series, The Mayer family triliogy, The Ever After series - book 3 is coming befor Christmas! and Cue Me In and Lights, Camera, Poltergeist - my New Adult stories.

Phillipa has The First time series as Pippa Croft and some steamier books under another name.

We can't wait to talk about our experiences and share the pro's and con's involved.

Guest Blogger - Krysten Lindsay Hager

Please welcome Krysten Lindsay Hager. She is an author and book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and also writes middle grade, YA, humor essays, and adult fiction. Her debut novel, TRUE COLORS, is out June 17th from Astraea Press. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in South Dakota, Portugal, and currently resides in Southern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing when she’s not catching up on her favorite shows.

Here's the blurb for TRUE COLORS

Every day I walked down the sidewalk to school and wished I were one of the interesting popular girls who ran up with exciting news. Just once I’d like to be one of those girls instead of the being the one who didn’t get invited to things because people “forgot” about me.

Here's the story premise!

Landry gets pushed into trying out for the American Ingénue reality show modeling competition with her two best friends. She doesn’t think she stands a chance, but she advances to the next level in the competition and her friends ignore her when they get cut.

Enter the gorgeous Devon, who also makes the first cut and includes Landry in her clique. Devon becomes the perfect best friend, but can their friendship survive the competition?

Landry hopes her big break could come at any moment, but soon sees there’s much more to modeling. She begins missing out on being with friends and has the chance to have a boyfriend when she meets a boy named Vladi from another school. Part of Landry wants to be famous (and have her hair look good for once), but part of her just wants to be accepted. She learns about friendships, being true to yourself, and that a good hair conditioner doesn’t hurt.

You can get a copy of TRUE COLORS from Amazon.com and Amazon UK and all good etailers!

Today at 2pm

Today at 2pm I'll be talking at Wednesbury Library in Sandwell with the lovely Phillipa Ashley and Elizabeth Hanbury. Call the library for a free ticket as spaces are almost gone :)

Sophie's Choice - out today!

OUT NOW! Sophie’s Choice. Just 99c 77p Why not try this one and Christmas Ever After? Amazon UK Amazon.com

Here's a taster!

"Do it then. Run away to Northumberland with me." She wasn't sure what had prompted her to make such a rash offer. Perhaps it was the desire to shock Henry, or merely her own need for a companion for the journey, even if he was a somewhat dull solicitor.

"It's not that easy. I have a job, responsibilities."

"Cluck, cluck, cluck." Sophie goaded.

Henry glared at her. "I am not chicken."

She raised her eyebrows. "Prove it."

To her amusement, he appeared flustered by her challenge and she wondered if his calm, orderly life had ever been disrupted before.

"People depend on me."

"Isn't the whole point of an escape to lose those responsibilities for a short while?" She smiled sweetly at him, the expression in her eyes daring him to give in.

His gaze locked with hers and something in the intensity of his stare made her wonder what she'd let herself in for by baiting him.

"Okay, you're on. I'll be back for you in three hours. That should give you time to take a bath and pack a bag."

Sophie swallowed. She hadn't seriously considered that he would take up her challenge and now it seemed she would be saddled with Henry's company at Tything Manor.

The corners of his mouth quirked and she knew he was waiting for her to try and wriggle out of the corner she'd painted herself into.

"Fine, three hours it is. I'll call Rafe and tell him we're coming."

(C) Nell Dixon 2014

Unexpected Treasure - Free!

Unexpected Treasure - short story which I released a while ago has finally gone free on Amazon UK. If you all report it then hopefully it'll go free for my US readers too. Here's the UK link

Vote for Christmas Ever After!

Gulp, voting is open for the RONE awards in the novella category. Christmas Ever After is a nominee and I would be eternally grateful for any votes. I know I don't stand a chance as I don't have the street teams and huge cohorts of organised voting some authors have but I'd be thrilled to reach double figure :) Vote Here It only takes a minute and InD'Tale Mag are lovely and don't spam you. Hugs. If you haven't read it yet and want to read before you vote - voting is open for a week! Here are the buy links! Amazon.com Amazon UK

Lady Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Bellhavan is dubbed the runaway bride after calling off her wedding on the eve of her marriage just a week before Christmas. Her best friend, Sophie has the perfect hideout for the beleaguered society belle, her childhood home, Tything Manor. Lottie won’t be alone for Christmas at the isolated Northumbrian manor house, Sophie’s older brother, Ranulf, the reclusive Earl of Craigmore will be there too.

Rafe is aware his unconventional looks and retiring nature won’t win any beauty contests but with the magic of the Christmas season and some judicious matchmaking from the meddlesome Sophie it might just be Christmas Ever After for Lottie and Rafe…

Also available as a paperback

Sophie's Choice has a release date!

I'm delighted to say that the prequel to Christmas Ever After, which tells the story of Rafe's sister, Sophie, is now scheduled for release on May 15th. Now I had better finish writing it as my editor will be waiting! It has a gorgeous cover which I'll share with you all as soon as I get the go ahead!

Christmas Ever After is a RONE award nominee!

I'm thrilled to say Christmas Ever After has been nominated for a RONE award.

Such lovely news on a grey, cold March day.

You can get your copy HERE if in the US Or HERE if in the UK Also available in other countries and if you're old school you can get the paperback!

An Uncivil War - FREE!

FREE for next few days! My Chick lit Timeslip Amazon UK Amazon.com

Grab your copy and tell your friends!

Almost gone!

I can't believe it's almost the end of January already. Where did it go?

I have lots of things coming up soon, some of which I can't talk about just yet. Some are writerly and some are some big changes in my personal life. I promise I'll share as soon as I can. It's all good. I have a lovely cover for Sophie's Choice and I really need to get that book finished!

In a few days time I have one of those landmark birthdays, and as I mentioned before Mr Nell is taking me to Malta for a week to celebrate. I love Malta and am so excited to be going back to revisit some favourite places.

I know that this year is going to be a good year.

Off to a cracking start!

2014 is promising to be a much better year in all ways than last year! Right now my lovely publishers, Astraea Press have a brilliant offer on all my single title books with them - just 99c or 77p so if you're missing one of the New Bay or Mayer family titles or wanted to try my new adult spooky shorts then now is your chance! There are lots of great offers on other Astraea titles too so make the most of your chance to fill your kindle with quality reading.

Writing wise I'm getting on with Sophie's Choice - the prequel to Christmas Ever After. It's such fun to write! Then I need to finish At The Dolphin Hotel, my cosy crime/romance.

An Uncivil War should be available soon in paperback too!

It's been busy on the home front too with my eldest belle turning twenty last weekend. I can't believe I have a daughter out of her teens. We've been busy decorating so at the moment the smell of paint is lingering everywhere and my youngest belle now has a pea green bedroom. Next stop is the belle's bathroom! It's like the painting of the Forth bridge.

My youngest belle also has chosen her prom dress now ready for summer so lots of fun dress shopping over the last couple of weeks. With the evenings starting to lighten earlier maybe Summer doesn't seem quite so distant despite the cold and damp.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2014!

This year promises to bring a lot of changes - some good, some, well, who knows! I have two stories underway to finish and release. At The Dolphin Hotel - a cosy mystery with a mix of romance!, and Sophie's Choice, the prequel to Christmas Ever After. An Uncivil War will be releasing in print as will Marrying Max. Demand is growing for my writing courses and my copy editing and critiquing business and Brierley Rose Press is becoming more established.

On a personal front my day job is looking shaky - nothing like getting an advance notice of redundancy in with your Christmas cards :)

I have a landmark birthday in a few weeks time too and Mr Nell is taking me to Malta for a week! We fly on my birthday. I love Malta and haven't been for quite a few years now so I'm excited to be going back.

Thank you to everyone who's supported me this last year, my family, my friends, my colleagues and my readers. I appreciate all of you so much.

Here's to a bright and sparkly 2014, may it find you healthy and happy, with food in your larder, a roof over your head, money in your pocket and books to read!

Guest Blogger - Felicia Rogers

A warm welcome to my guest today, Felicia Rogers, talking about The Ruse, her new Regency release.

The Ruse, Andrews Brothers, Book One

The fix is in…but her heart can’t be fooled.

Luke Andrews, Baron of Stockport, is in trouble. He needs a wealthy bride to secure future funds for his financially shaky estate, but the belle of the London season is a spoiled terror with an arrogant father. They’d try the nerves of a saint and Luke can’t quite bring himself to make an offer he knows he’d regret.

Meanwhile, Luke’s half-brother Chadwick never could resist a good game of Faro, or anything else, for that matter. With the baron away, Chadwick will play — gambling the estate’s remaining funds into oblivion. He needs to devise his own scheme to replace the money he’s lost, before his brother returns.

In Stockport village, Brigitta Blackburn doesn’t have two sticks to rub together — literally. With the estate in financial distress and rents high, food and wood are scarce. When she sneaks onto the baron’s land to steal some firewood, she’s caught, hauled before the play-acting “baron,” Chadwick, and offered a solution to her plight… and his.

But Chadwick’s ruse embroils them all. How can Brigitta accept what she thinks to be true, when she really yearns to follow her heart?

--a traditional Regency novel

On sale for 0.99 from Dec. 24th to Dec. 29th!!!

Available from Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/lkdksyd Amazon UK: http://tinyurl.com/lt2lwkn

Here's an excerpt to tempt you!

Fountains bubbled and birds landed in the baths. Luke took the long trail and walked by the fishing pond and hunting grounds. A rock jutted out from the mountain and Luke paused, blocking the sun from his face. From his high perch, the ruins of Stockport Castle tumbled across the green below. He remembered being a lad and staring at the ruins while holding tightly to his father’s hand. His father’s vivid descriptions had almost made him feel as if he’d walked through the hallowed halls that lay destroyed.

Reality of how things that stood the test of time could still plunge into nothingness gnawed at his innards and he wished his father was around to offer wisdom.

Downhearted, he shoved his hands in his pockets and turned. Upon approaching the manse, he knitted his brows. A line of people gathered. Behind them, carriages lined the road almost as far away as the village.

He strode toward the crowd and joined them. Raindrops fell and he tugged his top hat lower. The throng groaned and waved umbrellas aloft. Before them the manse doors parted and they entered the east wing of the estate. Tourists dressed in fine frocks with plumed hats filed into the main room, staring avidly about at his home. An individual Luke had never seen acted as a guide, lifting his hands and pointing at one side of the curved staircase.

There a woman of refined grace descended.

The guide announced, “Introducing Baroness Stockport, Brigitta Andrews.”

Luke blinked rapidly as the woman turned, smiled, and waved. The crowd returned her actions. She continued to descend until she reached the landing, where she stopped.

From the opposite set of stairs, his half-brother Chadwick, dressed in regal attire, descended. The red coat emphasized his broad shoulders, which he held back. His face scrunched, he didn’t look at the crowd, but instead focused a look filled with unrequited hatred toward the woman on the landing.

The guide lifted his hand toward Chadwick and said, “Introducing the Baron of Stockport.” Luke covered his gasp and huddled deeper into his coat. What is the meaning of this?

Before any further thoughts could drift through Luke’s mind, Chadwick stopped in the middle of the stairs and shouted, “And just what do you think you’re wearing?”

The woman bristled. “I’m wearing the yellow today, my lord.”

“The yellow? Blah. I’ve told you I detest yellow. Get thee upstairs and change this instant.” He pointed his finger above and the lady cocked a brow and glared.

“You will not tell me what to do! I’m the baroness and I can do as I please. If I want to wear yellow, then I shall wear yellow!”

Chadwick didn’t waver and Brigitta hitched her skirts and ran upstairs. Chadwick faced the crowd and apologized for his wife’s behavior before casually turning on his heel and leaving himself.

Shocked, Luke blindly followed the crowd. The guide led them through the entire east wing. They studied the wall of family portraits, swooned over the ancient family heirlooms, and ended with a riding tour of the grounds. With each new sight his ire increased. While he’d been strangled initially by feelings of cold, blind rage, the trip on horseback through the grounds cooled his temper and now he was naught but confused.

The event ended and the visitors left in their carriages. Discreetly, Luke sneaked into the house through a downstairs window and raced on tiptoe to his chambers. He sat at a desk and pondered until his head ached. Finally, he pulled the servant’s rope that led directly to his personal valet’s room. He paced, his mind jumbled with nonsensical thoughts. The door opened and he blurted, “Jarvis, I have a problem.”

The valet entered and closed the door. A blank stare covered his face as he blurted, “My lord, we weren’t expecting you. Welcome home.”

“There is something foul at play here.”

Jarvis squinted, lifted his nose, and sniffed.

“Not an odor, Jarvis.”

He lowered his chin. “Excuse me, your lordship, but I fail to understand your meaning.”

Without pretense, Luke said, “In the east wing, Chadwick is pretending to be me!”

“Are you sure?” asked Jarvis, his voice lending to a squeak.

He rounded on the servant. “Yes, I’m sure! They called his name as the Baron of Stockport and last I checked that was me!” (C) Felicia Rogers 2013

Guest post - Sherry Gloag - Name the Day!

Introducing Sherry Gloag, a fellow Astraea author with her fab new release - Name the day!

Best-selling author, Sherry Gloag is a transplanted Scot now living in the beautiful coastal countryside of Norfolk, England. She considers the surrounding countryside as extension of her own garden, to which she escapes when she needs "thinking time" and solitude to work out the plots for her next novel. While out walking she enjoys talking to her characters, as long as there are no other walkers close by.

Apart from writing, Sherry enjoys gardening, walking, reading and cheerfully admits her books tend to take over most of the shelf and floor space in her workroom-cum-office. She also finds crystal craft work therapeutic.

Sherry loves to hear from her readers. Contact Sherry!

Renowned portrait artist, Samantha Brown is through with men. After dealing with an overbearing father and cheating ex-fiance, Samantha is not in the market for romance, of any kind. Give her a blank canvas, some paints and brushes and she’s in charge of her life. There was no room in her life for love, so why did she find herself giving in to Rafael Santini’s outrageous demand that she paint his portrait?

Satisfied with his upcoming marriage of convenience Rafael Santini isn’t in the market for love. So, how come he finds the pint-sized artist stirring up emotions he didn’t have time for?

An accident forces Rafael to re-evaluate his life and wonder whether he can teach Samantha the art of love.

Excerpt:

Why couldn’t the stubborn man get it? She wasn’t giving him any favours at the expense of her other clients. In his case, money would not talk. Almost all her clients were well-heeled, but most understood the time restraints. After all, as she told each person, including Rafael Santini, who contracted a commission they wouldn’t want her to rush their painting and offer them a sub-standard product, would they?

“Give me the names of your clients and I will arrange to exchange places in your queue.” His unequivocal belief pulsed across the airwaves. Did the stupid man expect her to break the confidences of her clients?

“Tell me, Mr. Santini,” she asked in her most dulcet tone, “if I asked for a list of your clients would you hand them over, simply because I wanted something?”

“Don’t be stupid woman. It’s not the same thing at all. I’m a businessman.”

Would someone please save me from stupid arrogant men, Samantha offered in silent plea to the ether without expecting any response.

“I may not deal in electronics and communications systems, or equipment for the world of espionage, secret agents, and private investigators, Mr. Santini, but I do maintain a strict code of integrity and honour and customer confidentiality.”

“Why would you need confidentiality to daub a few colours on a piece of paper?”

Is this guy for real? Does he think insults and condemnation will get him what he wants?

“Let me get this straight. You want my agreement to let you queue jump the rest of my clients, who, incidentally have all signed contracts to be here on specified dates at specific times, and then you will be quite happy for me to go around publicising the fact you are not only having your portrait done, but that you bullied, harassed and threatened me into agreeing to your terms? I don’t think so. Not to mention that in many cases the commission is usually a gift for someone special and total secrecy is not only expected it is essential.”

The silence at the other end of the phone was almost deafening.

© Sherry Gloag 2013

Grab your copy Amazon.com Amazon UK B&N and other good e tailers!